SOME 4,000 years ago, Abraham's nephew Lot said of Jehovah: "You are magnifying your loving-kindness." (Genesis 19:19) This is the first time the expression "loving-kindness" appears in the Bible. Jacob, Naomi, David and other servants of God also spoke about this quality of Jehovah. (Genesis 32:10; Ruth 1:8; Samuel 2:6) In fact, the terms "loving-kindness" and "loving-kindnesses" occur some 250 times in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. But what is Jehovah's loving-kindness? To whom was it shown in the past? And how do we benefit from it today?
In the Scriptures, "loving-kindness" is a translation of a Hebrew term so rich in meaning that most languages have not single word exactly expressing its full sense. Thus, such renderings as "love," "mercy," and "faithfulness" do not capture its complete breadth of meaning. However, the more comprehensive rendering "loving-kindness" is "not far from the fullness of the meaning of the word," notes Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures -With References appropriately gives "loyal love" as an alternate rendering of the Hebrew term translated "loving-kindness." -Exodus 15:13; Psalm 5:7.
Next time: Different From Love And Loyalty
Watchtower, 2002
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